Obituary of Robert G. Morrison

Robert “Gordon” Morrison passed away and went to fly with the eagles on June 1, 2021. He was the 8th and youngest child of Rodney Campbell and Laura Etta (Knapp) Morrison; born on Oct 27, 1932, in Limon. He grew up here, and attended Limon Schools. During high school, Gordon played on the basketball and football teams. He attended Colorado A&M, working on a degree in electrical engineering. After 2 years, Gordon decided to enlist in the US Army, but instead was given the opportunity to go into a flight program for the US Air Force. He passed the exam with “flying colors”. He soon fell in love with airplanes and flying. From Texas, Bob (as he was known in the Air Force) went to more training in southern California. On March 17, 1956, he and Ann Williams married in one of those famous Las Vegas wedding chapels. Bob’s first duty station was Hamilton AFB, where he flew the brand-new F-104 Starfighter. It was the Air Force’s first super-sonic jet. After a tour in Germany and Spain, he transferred back to California. During that time, Bob was called to spend a year in Vietnam during the war there. He was an advisor to a Vietnamese Air Force unit. While in Vietnam , he was awarded the Air Force’s Distinguish Flying Cross. The next duty station was England AFB, in Louisiana. Bob trained Vietnamese pilots while there. His final duty station was at Grissom AFB, Indiana, where he was as an advisor to an Indiana Air Guard unit. Upon retirement in 1974, Bob decided to finish college and earned a degree in Agriculture at Colorado State University. North of Limon, he and Ann built a home on ranchland that Ann had inherited. The ranch became known as the Blue 4. Blue 4 was the call signed given to the least experienced pilot in a flight of 4. Son Doug worked along side of his dad on the ranch. Daughter Ellen married in 1979. She had the first 2 grandchildren: Steven Thomas and Jennifer Anne Picard. A few years later, Doug married and added 2 more grandchildren: Gordon “Scott” and Sharyl Nicole. In Limon, many people remembered him as Gordon. He was a long-time member of the Elbert ,Colorado, Land Planning Board. Gordon was then elected Elbert, Colorado, Commissioner. Gordon and Ann remained active in Colorado Farm Bureau and in the Elbert, Colorado, Republican party for many years. Later, Gordon did agriculture surveys in SE Colorado for NASDA. Part of the job had him selecting plots in wheat fields and he returned several times during the growing season to sample the wheat in those plots. Gordon and Ann moved into Limon where they established a flourishing garden. He and Ann saw their grandson, Scott, get married and have 4 children: Grace, Carter, Emma, and Jackson. Gordon is survived by his brother, Donald G. Morrison (Helen); Ann, his wife of 65 years; his children, Ellen and Doug (Veronica); and his 4 grandchildren: Steve, Jennifer, Scott (Laura) and Sharyl. Services will be at a later time at the graveside. Memorials may be made to the Limon Heritage Society or to a charity of their choice. We want to thank everyone who has provided Dad wonderful care over the years.